Diving Operators

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	Maldives Scuba Tours
Finningham Barns, Walsham Road, Finningham, Suffolk IP14 4JG			MAP
tel: 01449 780220

Experts in diving holidays in the Maldives with a programme started in the early ‘90s. Offer both live-aboards and island-based holidays, these second including small islands with good house reefs. Points out that most Maldivian islands have a doctor on the island during the season November to end April when dry and predominantly calm, who runs the clinic. (They are invited to stay free of charge in return for running the clinic.) There are also good medical facilities in Male, run largely by European doctors.

Where

Maldives, the brochure including 12 islands including resorts from three to five-star and can also offer almost any other resort there on request (note that during high season months some islands are devoted to single nationalities).

Recommendations

Since PADI introduced the Bubblemaker programme most of the resorts offer that for children of 8-plus, so then it's a question of choosing your preferred type of resort. All resorts in the programme will accept families but would suggest one of the all-inclusives to limit soft drinks bar bills for example. Filitheyo, a four-star resort with pool and good facilities including nice beaches is one option. Lily Beach is another, with pool and children's play area, babysitting facilities. The Four Seasons resort, at the quality end Kuda Hura Four Seasons is a five-star with a children's Club staffed by qualified carers where children can be left while parents dive.
Is also seeing a growth in the popularity of liveabords for families, chartering their own boat, one being for example with six cabins and you can set your own itinerary. It is a cheaper way of having a totally personalised holiday, particularly suited to two families, sometimes the parents electing one person to do the childcare during the dive for the rest of them. The boats are air conditioned, with hot water and all the other facilities including mobile telecommunications. A major advantage is that you can anchor up on a near uninhabited island. The dive staff can take them on a little Bubblemaker experience, the timetable is arranged to suit the family and ‘boy do the kids sleep' after they've spent the day swimming and snorkelling.

Sample Price

Lily Beach for Easter for 14 nights on scheduled flights would be from £1,916 per adult and children between 2 and 12 years 20% discount. A boat charter for the week including food and soft drinks, and all sport facilities around £10,500, depending on the season for up to 12 people, flights extra.